Many Catholics across the nation are incensed by Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka’s New Year’s Eve sermon in which he called on the catholic faithful to vote enmasse against the incumbent during the upcoming general elections. (see the full video here)
The controversial cleric drew great condemnation due to the fact that he had nothing but great praise for the President only a month earlier during a visit of the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan to his congregation in Enugu.
Then, Mbaka had said Jonathan had performed creditably well despite distractions and even stated that it was not the responsiblity of President Goodluck Jonathan to bring back the missing Chibok girls. (See the report and video here.)
The cleric’s about turn has enraged many Nigerians who are upset that politics has eaten deep into the fabric of religion in the country.
Here are some of the reactions from Nairaland members:
One Nairalander said:
Although I am a proud Catholic, I boldly declare that this so-called Reverend Mbaka is mentally disturbed, and unfit to be called a Catholic priest. It is bad enough to openly support GEJ initially, but changing his tune barely a month afterwards on the superstitious and ridiculous excuse of a pigeon that refused to fly makes a mockery of the Catholic Church.
This idea of super priests (like Mbaka, Father Edeh, etc) who think they are bigger than the Church is now unacceptable. They had better go and start their own fake evangelical miracle churches rather than soil the good image of catholicism.
Another commented:
Dear Rev Mbaka,
God told me to tell you that; YES the healthiest bird in your ‘spiritual drama’ indeed represented Goodluck Jonathan BUT theBird cage you put forward represented ASO ROCK. The 3 birds that flew away represented Buhari (oldest), Osinbajo (Younger) and Tinubu (sickest), they flew away because the Cage (Aso Rock) belonged to the healthiest bird (Jonathan) for now, hence no vacancy for other birds. The other birds (Buhari, Osinbajo and Tinubu) flew into the wilderness where mother nature will deal with them for all their sins.
Yet another Nairalander with the moniker Darrius said:
This is what you see,when supposed men of God,turns to men of men,or rather,men of politicians,or even men of themselves.
Endorsing and ‘dis-endorsing’.
They are now worst than politicians.lying at every instance.
If Jonathan show up there now,he will re-endorse him,claiming he has now seen/hear clearer.
They no longer hear from God,but from Money.
Mtchwww
shm!.
Two more Nairalanders made the following comments:
1.It’s so saddened that a man of God will be so immensed in politics to throw pastoral ordinances and decorum to the floor. How can someone be speaking from both sides of his mouth, if truly he said what was written. Thank God man is not God. We pray the better candidate wins. May God bless President Goodluck Jonathan. There shall be peace in Nigeria in Jesus name, Amen!
2.Mbaka is denting his image and the image of the catholic church, he should stick to religion. The problem we have in the country and the world at large is more religions than political, he should teach our people issues of moral values and fear of God, that trying to influence votes for a politicial candidate, i bet his utterances can’t even influence a single vote, simply because Igbos do not have leaders and listens to no one.